NMTI conducts instructor certification course

Prospective instructors at Northern Marianas Trades Institute pose for a group photo after taking part in a recently conducted instructor certification program. (Contributed Photo)

The Northern Marianas Trades Institute recently conducted an instructor certification course for candidates wanting to teach classes at the Lower Base trade school. The certification class is a requirement to teach modules in the “Construction Trades Core” offered by NMTI and backed by the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER).

NMTI’s Construction Trades Program is NCCER accredited and falls under the sponsorship of the Guam Contractor’s Association. Students who successfully pass the exam will be nationally recognized and can teach NCCER courses for a period of three years. Depending on whether they continue teaching related courses, this auto renewal only expires if the individual doesn’t teach a module within a three-year span.

Dr. Herbert Johnston, NCCER Certified Master Trainer from the Guam Trades Academy, came to Saipan to instruct the course and administer the instructor certification exam.  The course was held from April 1 to 3 and was comprised of nine different modules testing the individual’s understanding of how students learn and how to best use NCCER tested methods at ensuring their success in their craft.  Johnston impressed upon his students that being good at a craft is one thing, while being able to teach that craft to another is an entirely different subject.  He stressed the need for instructors to sincerely care about student learning in order for that student to be not only proficient but to master that craft.  If a candidate successfully passes the exam, he will be issued a certification card from NCCER in Alachua, Florida.

As NCCER stands by its product, it must ensure that its courses are being taught by competent individuals, according to Ross Manglona, one of the instructor hopefuls taking the course.  Manglona when asked to elaborate further stated, “it’s like going to McDonald’s. It doesn’t matter what state or territory you order your Big Mac, it’ll come out the same every time. Being consistent with our product is what this course is all about. The curriculum was set forth by leaders in the craft and what makes this unique is that as the technology is developed, the curriculum is also evolving along with it.”

The course drew people from different walks of life. One of the candidates was a retired math teacher, another was a carpenter, an electrician, an HVAC technician, and another was a school administrator. Brian Torres, the math teacher, was asked what he was doing taking the course? Torres replied by saying, “NCCER requires us to be certified as the curriculum is so vast in its concepts that it includes courses such as employability, construction drawings, etc.  This requires reading and math skills, so if we intend on teaching at NMTI and teaching such courses we must get the NCCER nod, prior to teaching their established curriculum.